Scanning method and scanning system using TWAIN driver

ABSTRACT

A scanning method used to scan documents in a scanning system, the system including a scanner and a user host computer having a technology without an interesting name (TWAIN) driver, the scanner and the user host computer connected by a local interface and a network, includes selecting one of the local interface or the network to connect the scanner and the user host computer; if the network is selected, connecting the TWAIN driver to the scanner via the selected network to control scanning processes of the scanner; and performing scanning according to the selected local interface or the network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/047,607 filed on Mar. 13, 2008, which is currently pending, andclaims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2007-0069833, filed on Jul. 11, 2007 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention relate to a scanning method andscanning system using a Technology Without An Interesting Name (i.e.,“TWAIN”) driver, and more particularly, to a scanning method andscanning system using a TWAIN driver, which can maximize convenience andutility of a scanner by performing duplex scanning in a scanner or auser host computer, which are both in a scanning system wherein thescanner and the user host computer are locally connected by an interfacesuch as a universal serial bus (USB) or a parallel port, or are remotelyconnected via a network.

Aspects of the present invention also relate to a method and system totransmit a scanned image from a scanner to an application of a user hostcomputer via a network using network session technology and scanningcontrol technology applied in a local connection.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a standard interface is used to regulate communicationbetween software applications and imaging devices such as scanners.Examples of such a standard interface are a “Technology Without AnInteresting Name” (i.e., “TWAIN”) driver, or a Windows image acquisition(i.e, “WIA”) driver, used by an application of a user host computer(i.e., a “host”) to obtain a scanned image of a scanner. FIG. 1 is adiagram illustrating a connection between a scanner 11 and a user hostcomputer 10 connected by a local connection interface 13, such as a USBor a parallel port. In order for an application of the user hostcomputer 10 to receive an image scanned by the scanner 11 using a TWAINdriver, the local connection interface 13, such as a USB or a parallelport, is usually configured as illustrated in FIG. 1. Such technology isdisclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/127682.

As shown in FIG. 1, since the local connection interface 13 is locallyconnected to the user host computer 10, the local connection interface13 has a connectivity restriction, i.e., the connection between the userhost computer 10 and the scanner 11 is limited to a connection lengthand connection capacity of the local connection interface 13.Accordingly, in order to overcome such a connectivity restriction,technology has been developed in which the scanned image is transmittedto the user host computer 10 through a network. Such technology isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,044, 6,256,662, and 6,426,001, andU.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0014908.

However, the technology of transmitting a scanned image to a user hostcomputer, via a network, does not combine and use technology which usesa network session control and a local connection. Thus, users experienceinconvenience when using such conventional technology.

Aspects of the present invention provide a scanning method and scanningsystem using a TWAIN driver, which can maximize convenience and utilityof a scanner by performing duplex scanning in a scanner or a user hostcomputer, which are both in a scanning system wherein the scanner andthe user host computer are locally connected by an interface such as auniversal serial bus (USB) or a parallel port, or are remotely connectedvia a network.

Aspects of the present invention also provide a method and system totransmit a scanned image from a scanner to an application of a user hostcomputer via a network using a network session technology and a scanningcontrol technology applied in a local connection.

An example embodiment of the present invention, provides a scanningmethod used to scan documents in a scanning system, the system includinga scanner and a user host computer having a TWAIN driver, the scannerand the user host computer connectable by a local interface and anetwork, the method including selecting one of the local interface orthe network to connect the scanner and the user host computer; if thenetwork is selected, connecting the TWAIN driver to the scanner via theselected network to control the scanner; and performing scanningaccording to the selected local interface or the network.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the checking includestransmitting and receiving message data between the user host computerand the scanner in order to connect the user host computer and thescanner via the network.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the selecting includesselecting one of the local interface or the network via one of anoperation panel of the scanner or the user host computer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the user host computerpre-registers user information, corresponding user host computerinformation, and scan options in the scanner via the network, before theselecting of one of the local interface or the network.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the user information,corresponding user host computer information, and scan options can beregistered by performing a search.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if the network isselected, the method further includes starting the performing of thescanning by inputting a command to the scanner to perform the scanningby a remote connection via the network, logging in by selecting apre-registered user based on the pre-registered user information, andreceiving an application list and a scan option value by using theregistered user host computer information corresponding to thepre-registered user information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if the network isselected, the method further includes indicating a list of scannersconnected to the network and providing a graphic user interface (GUI)which enables a user to select a desired scanner from the list ofscanners or select the desired scanner by directly inputting an IPaddress of the desired scanner, wherein the GUI is provided by one ofthe user host computer or the scanner.

Another example embodiment of the present invention provides a scanningsystem, including a scanner to scan a document, a user host computerconnectable to the scanner by a local interface and a network, includinga TWAIN driver to control the scanner, a scan manager, which discoversthe scanner and registers user information, user host computerinformation, and scan options, such as scan resolution, in thediscovered scanner, and a ScanToPC application, which receives the userinformation, the user host computer information, and the scan optionsfrom the scanner registered by the scan manager and operates a scandriver based on the user information, the user host computerinformation, and the scan options, and a network module, including ascanner discoverer, to transmit and/or receive data used by the scanmanager to discover the scanner and interposed between the scan managerand the scanner, and a session controller, interposed between theScanToPC application and the scanner to control a network connection ofthe ScanToPC application and the scanner.

In addition to the example embodiments and aspects as described above,further aspects and embodiments will be apparent by reference to thedrawings and by study of the following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description of example embodiments and theclaims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, allforming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the followingwritten and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing exampleembodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that thesame is by way of illustration and example only and that the inventionis not limited thereto. The spirit and scope of the present inventionare limited only by the terms of the appended claims. The followingrepresents brief descriptions of the drawings, wherein:

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection between a scanner and auser host computer connected by a local connection interface, such as auniversal serial bus (USB) or a parallel port;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a scanning system using a technologywithout any interested name (TWAIN) driver according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating in detail the scanning system using aTWAIN driver illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a scanning method using a TWAINdriver according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a message format used in a scanningmethod and a scanning system using a TWAIN driver according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6(A)-6(F) illustrate diagrams showing messages according tooperations used in a scanning method and scanning system using a TWAINdriver according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG.6(A) illustrates a scanner discovery request message, FIG. 6(B)illustrates a message of a ScanToPC supporting operation code, FIG. 6(C)illustrates a connection message after a user logs in, FIG. 6(D)illustrates a message to transmit an application list to a scanner, FIG.6(E) is a message generated when a signal from a cancel button isinputted to a scanner, and FIG. 6(F) is a message actually requestingscanning from a scanner to a user host computer; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an input/output graphic user interface(GUI) screen provided by a scan manager of the scanning systemillustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a scanning system using a TWAIN driver106 according to an example embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating in detail the scanning system using theTWAIN driver 106 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchartillustrating a scanning method using a TWAIN driver according to anexample embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagramillustrating a message format used in the scanning method and thescanning system using a TWAIN driver according to an example embodimentof the present invention. FIGS. 6(A)-6(F) illustrate diagrams showingmessages according to operations used in the scanning method and thescanning system using a TWAIN driver according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Specifically, FIG. 6(A) illustrates a scannerdiscovery request message, FIG. 6(B) illustrates a message of a ScanToPCsupporting operation code, FIG. 6(C) illustrates a connection messageafter a user logs in, FIG. 6(D) illustrates a message to transmit anapplication list to a scanner, FIG. 6(E) illustrates a message generatedwhen a signal from a cancel button is inputted to a scanner, and FIG.6(F) is a message actually requesting scanning from a scanner to a userhost computer. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an input/output graphicuser interface (GUI) screen provided by a scan manager of the scanningsystem according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the scanning system according to aspects ofthe present invention includes a scanner 200 and a user host computer100 which are locally connected by an interface 13, also known as alocal interface 13, such as a universal serial bus (USB) or a parallelport, or remotely connected via a network 120, in order to performscanning. Accordingly, the scanning system includes a network module150, which connects the user host computer 100 and the scanner 200 via anetwork 120. It is understood that the scanner 200 and the user hostcomputer 100 are connectable to both the interface 13 and the network120.

The user host computer 100 includes a scan manager 102, which discoversthe scanner 200 that supports a network scan, i.e., discovers thescanner 200 which is capable of connecting to the user host computer 100via the network 120, and registers user information, user host computerinformation, and scan options, such as a scan resolution, color, etc.,in the discovered scanner 200. Also, the user host computer 100 includesa ScanToPC application 104, which receives the user information, theuser host computer information, and the scan options registered in thescanner 200 by the scan manager 102. Furthermore, the user host computer100 includes a TWAIN driver 106 which functions as a scanner driver andcontrols the scanner 200 based on the received user information, userhost computer information, and scan options. According to aspects of thepresent invention, the TWAIN driver 106 can be used to controloperations of the scanner 200 via a local connection or via the network120. The TWAIN driver 106 generally controls scanning processes of thescanner 200, and receives and stores a scanned image.

The scan manager 102 will now be described in detail. The scan manager102 is a network application of the user host computer 100, anddiscovers the scanner 200 that supports the TWAIN driver 106. Upondiscovery of the scanner 200, the scan manager 102 assigns and registersuser information, user host computer information, and scan options, suchas the scan resolution, and a storage location in the user host computer100, in the scanner 200.

The ScanToPC application 104 will now be described in detail. TheScanToPC application 104 is an application related to scanning of theuser host computer 100. When a user starts scanning by selecting theuser information and the scan options from the scanner 200, which isregistered in the scanner 200 by the scan manager 102, the ScanToPCapplication 104 of the user host computer 100 receives a scanning startsignal from the scanner 200 through the network 120 and activates theTWAIN driver 106 with the scan options. When the activated TWAIN driver106 stores the scanned image in a corresponding location according tothe scan options, the ScanToPC application 104 transmits the storedscanned image to another pre-designated application.

The network module 150 includes a scanner discoverer 156, which isinterposed between the scan manager 102 of the user host computer 100and the scanner 200 and transmits and receives data for scannerdiscovery in order to discover the scanner 200. Additionally, thenetwork module 150 further includes a session controller 154, which isinterposed between the ScanToPC application 104 and the scanner 200 andcontrols a connection between the ScanToPC application 104 and thescanner 200 via the network 200. Also, the network module 150 furtherincludes a scan data and scan controller 152, which is interposedbetween the TWAIN driver 106 of the user host computer 100 and thescanner 200, and controls the transmission and reception of scan dataand the scanning operation.

According to the scanning system of the present embodiment, the TWAINdriver 106 is installed in the user host computer 100 and driven by anapplication. The user host computer 100 detects the scanner 200connected to the network 120, and connects the detected scanner 200 tothe user host computer 100 itself. Also, in the scanning systemaccording to the current embodiment, the scanner 200 calls and activatesthe TWAIN driver 106 through the network 120, which is a strength andspecific feature of the scanning system according to aspects of thepresent invention. In other words, in a conventional scanning system, auser controls a scanner 11 (FIG. 1) and receives a scanned image throughan interface 13 that is locally connected to a user host computer (10),but in the scanning system according to aspects of the presentinvention, the scanner 200 connected to the network (e.g., the Internet)120 can also be discovered and controlled, or the scanner 200 can beconnected and controlled by directly inputting an IP address to the userhost computer 100. Also, the scanning system according to aspects of thepresent invention can start the scanning operation using the connectedscanner 200 or using the TWAIN driver 106 of the user host computer 100.

General formats and a detailed structure of messages transmitted andreceived between the user host computer 100 and the scanner 200 via thenetwork 120 will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS.6(A)-6(F). In the message format shown in FIG. 5, “OP” defines a type ofan operation such as a request or a response and is an abbreviation of“operation,” “VERSION” literally represents of the message, and “ODF” isa field that defines detailed contents depending on the “OP.”

A scanning method using the TWAIN driver 106, realized in the scanningsystem according to aspects of the present invention, will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the scanningmethod begins by selecting whether the scanning will start in anoperation panel of the scanner 200, a scan driver of the user hostcomputer 100, or another application of the user host computer 100 atoperation S110. Then, when the scanner 200 or the user host computer 100is selected to start the scanning, the user then sets whether thescanning is to be performed by a remote connection via the network 120or a local connection at operations S120 or S112, according to theselection at operation S110. If the user sets the scanning operation tobe performed via a local connection at operation S120, the scanningoperation is performed according to the conventional scanning method atoperation S124. If the user sets the scanning operation to be performedvia a local connection at operation S112, the scanning operation isperformed according to the conventional scanning method at operationS126.

If the user sets the scanning operation to be performed by remoteconnection via the network 200 at operation S120, the scanning methodpreferably includes transmitting and receiving message data fordiscovery so as to connect the user host computer 100 and the scanner200 via the network 120 at operation S130, logging in by selecting apre-registered user, and checking, selecting, and setting an applicationlist and a scan option value using the registered user host computerinformation at operation S140 when the scanning starts in the scanner200. Then, the scanning operation is performed by the remote connectionvia the network 120 at operation S160.

Meanwhile, if the user sets the scanning operation to be performed byremote connection via the network 200 at operation S112, the hostcomputer 100 drives the scan (TWAIN) driver 106 and displays a list ofscanners connected to the network 120, and the user selects a desiredscanner 200 from the list or directly inputs an IP address of thedesired scanner 200 into the host computer 100, and sets the scanner 200at operation S150. Once the scanner 200 is set at operation S150,scanning is performed at operation S160.

According to an aspect of the present invention, operation S110 isperformed by manipulating a scan start button (not shown) of the scanner200 or by controlling the TWAIN driver 106 of the user host computer100. Also, the scanning method may further include pre-registering userinformation, user host computer information, and scan options from theuser host computer 100 into the scanner 200 through the network 120 atoperation S105. Alternatively, it will be obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art that the user information, user host computerinformation, and scan options can be registered in the scanner 200through conventional operations of the user host computer 100 and thescanner 200.

Detailed embodiments of the scanning method and scanning system usingthe TWAIN driver 106 according to aspects of the present invention willnow be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7. In the scanningsystem, when the scanning starts in the scanner 200, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the scanning operation may be performed by using theinterface 13 which a local connection between the host computer 100 andthe scanner 200, or by using the network 120. An advantage of thescanning system according to aspects of the present invention ascompared to the conventional network shown in FIG. 1 is that when a userlogs in by selecting a pre-registered user in the scanner 200 via thenetwork 120, an application list and a scan option value are received byaccessing a corresponding application of the user host computer 100 byusing the registered user host computer information.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a graphic user interface (GUI) 700provided by the scan manager 102 illustrated in FIG. 2. The GUI 700searches for devices connected to the network 120, and displaysresponses from scanners that support a scan function in a list. A usercan select the desired scanner 200 from the list displayed on the GUI700, or can directly input an IP address of the desired scanner 200 intothe GUI 700 to select the scanner 200.

A detailed embodiment of starting the scanning operation in the scanner200 will now be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the scan manager102 is connected to the ScanToPC application 104, which in turn isconnected to the TWAIN driver 106. The scan manager 102 provides the GUI700 illustrated in FIG. 7. When the scan manager 102 transmits a scannerdiscovery request message 602, such as the request message“T4NET_DISCOVERY_REQUEST” illustrated in FIG. 6(A), to the scanner 200through a channel 1 labeled “ch1” illustrated in FIG. 3, the scannerdiscoverer 156, such as a 6000 port of a User Datagram Protocol (UDP)socket, of the network module 150 receives the scanner discovery requestmessage 602 and transmits the scanner discovery request message 602 tothe scanner 200 through “ch1′”. According to an aspect of the presentinvention, the scanner discovery request message 602 includesinformation that can be used to check the user host computer 100 and thescanner 200, such as model information, device ID information(DeviceID), media access control (MAC) information, device IP (SET IP)information, IP type (IPType) information, encoded personalidentification number (EncryptPIN) information, duplex supportinformation, and location information, as illustrated in FIG. 6 (A).

The scanner 200 compares the model information included in the scannerdiscovery request message 602 and its own model information. When thescanner 200, which received the scanner discovery request message 602,determines that it is a scanner that supports the TWAIN driver 106installed in the user host computer 100 which transmitted the scannerdiscovery request message 602, the scanner 200 transmits a responsemessage 604, such as “T4NET_DISCOVERY_REPLY” illustrated in FIG. 6 (A),through the channel 1′ labeled “ch1′” to the network module 150. Whenthe response message 604 is transmitted to the network module 150, thescanner discoverer 156 of the network module 150 transmits the responsemessage 604 to the scan manager 102 of the user host computer 100through “ch1.”

Besides the scanner discovery request message 602 and the responsemessage 604, messages transmitted and received through the “ch1” mayfurther include a request message 606, such as“T4NET_REG_HOST_INFO_REQUEST” illustrated in FIG. 6 (B), which is usedto register user information and user host computer information via thescan manager 102, and a response message 608, such as“T4NET_REG_HOST_INFO_REPLY” illustrated in FIG. 6 (B), which the scanner200 uses to respond to the request message 606. When the user logs in byselecting a user or the user host computer 100 registered in the scanner200 to transmit a scanned image, a request message 610, such as“T4NET_REQ_SET_CONN_REQUEST” illustrated in FIG. 6 (C), is transmitted.

When “T4NET_REQ_SET_CONN_REQUEST” is transmitted from the scanner 200 tothe scan manager 102 of the user host computer 100 through the networkmodule 150, the scan manager 102 activates the ScanToPC application 104.The activated ScanToPC application 104 transmits a message 612, such as“T4NET_APPLICATION_LIST” illustrated in FIG. 6 (D) to the scanner 200through a channel 3 labeled “ch3” in order to register an applicationlist, selected by the scan manager 102, in the scanner 200. In responseto “T4NET_APPLICATION_LIST”, the scanner 200 transmits a message 614,such as “T4NET_APPLICATION_LIST_ACK” illustrated in FIG. 6 (D), to theuser host computer 100 to acknowledge the message 612. Then, when a scanstart button, installed on the scanner 200, is pressed after selecting adesired application from the application list, the scanner 200 transmitsthe value of the selected application and a scan option value to theScanToPC application 104 by using a scan request message 618, such as“T4NET_SCAN_REQUEST” illustrated in FIG. 6 (F). When a cancel button(not shown), installed on the scanner 200, is pressed before pressingthe scan start button, a cancel message 616, such as“T4NET_SCAN_CANCEL_EVENT” illustrated in FIG. 6 (E), is transmitted tothe ScanToPC application 104 in order to cancel the pending scanningoperation. When the cancel button is not pressed, the ScanToPCapplication 104 drives the TWAIN driver 106 by using the value of theselected application and the scan option value.

When the TWAIN driver 106 is activated, the TWAIN driver 106 connects tothe scanner 200 through a channel 5 labeled “ch5” by using informationabout the scanner 200 received from the ScanToPC application 104, byusing the scan option value as a default value, or by using a set valueinput through the GUI 700 illustrated in FIG. 7. After the TWAIN driver106 is connected to the scanner 200, the TWAIN driver 106 controlsscanning processes according to a conventional method, receives ascanned image, and stores the scanned image as a file according to thevalue of the selected application or transmits the scanned image to thecorresponding application. Accordingly, all of the user host computers100 connected to the network 120 can share, register, and use onescanner 200.

Starting the scanning operation in the user host computer 100 by usingthe TWAIN driver 106 will now be described. The user drives the TWAINdriver 106 in a desired image editing application and activates the scanmanager 102. When the scan manager 102 is activated, the GUI 700illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided, e.g., displayed on a screen of theuser host computer 100 or a screen of the scanner 200. The user connectsthe TWAIN driver 106 to the corresponding scanner 200 by searching forthe scanner 200 using the GUI 700, or by inputting an IP address of thescanner 200 that is to be connected to the network 120. After the TWAINdriver 106 is connected to the scanner 200, the TWAIN driver 106controls the scanning processes according to a conventional method,receives a scanned image, and stores the scanned image as a fileaccording to the value of the selected application or transmits thescanned image to the corresponding application. Accordingly, all of theuser host computers 100 connected to the network 120 can share,register, and use one scanner 200.

According to the scanning method and scanning system using the TWAINdriver 106, convenience and utility of a scanning operation is maximizedby performing duplex scanning using a scanner 200 or a user hostcomputer 100, which are both in a scanning system wherein the scanner200 and the user host computer 100 are locally connected, or remotelyconnected via the network 120.

While there have been illustrated and described what are considered tobe example embodiments of the present invention, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art and as technology develops that variouschanges and modifications, may be made, and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scopeof the present invention. Many modifications, permutations, additionsand sub-combinations may be made to adapt the teachings of the presentinvention to a particular situation without departing from the scopethereof. For example, the scan manager 102 and ScanToPC APPLICATION 104shown in FIG. 3 are not required to be separate components, and mayinstead be provided as a single component. Accordingly, it is intended,therefore, that the present invention not be limited to the variousexample embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention includesall embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Whilethe present invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scanning method to scan a document in ascanner, the scanner and a user host computer connectable by at leastone of a local interface and a network, the method comprising: receivinga scanning request from a user interface unit of the scanner; receivinga user input regarding user information from the user interface unit ofthe scanner; transmitting, to the user host computer, a message toactivate a TWAIN driver corresponding to the user information when theuser information corresponds to pre-registered user information; andsending scan data to the user host computer.
 2. The scanning method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of user scan options corresponds to theuser information, and the transmitting, to the user host computer, themessage to activate the TWAIN driver corresponding to the userinformation comprises transmitting, to the user host computer, themessage to activate the TWAIN driver in the user host computer using theat least one of user scan options.
 3. The scanning method of claim 2,wherein the message comprises at least one of the at least one of userscan options and user host computer information corresponding to theuser information, and the transmitting the message further comprisestransmitting the message to the user host computer corresponding to theuser host computer information from among at least one of a plurality ofhost computers.
 4. The scanning method of claim 1, further comprising:transmitting a scanning result to the user host computer via at leastone of a local interface connection and a network connection.
 5. Ascanning apparatus, comprising: a controller to control to receive ascanning request from a user interface unit of the scanning apparatus,to receive a user input regarding user information from the userinterface unit of the scanning apparatus, to transmit, to a user hostcomputer, a message to activate a TWAIN driver in the user hostcomputer, the TWAIN driver corresponding to user information when theuser information corresponds to pre-registered user information, and tosend data to the user host computer.
 6. The scanning apparatus of claim5, wherein at least one of user scan options corresponds to the userinformation, and the controller controls to transmit, to the user hostcomputer, the message to activate the TWAIN driver in the user hostcomputer using the at least one of user scan options.
 7. The scanningapparatus of claim 6, wherein the message comprises at least one of theat least one of user scan options and user host computer informationcorresponding to the user information, and the controller controls totransmit, to the user host computer corresponding to the user hostcomputer information from among at least one of a plurality of user hostcomputers, the message when the controller controls to transmit, to theuser host computer, the message.
 8. The scanning apparatus of claim 5,wherein the controller controls to transmit a scanning result to theuser host computer via at least one of a local interface connection anda network connection.
 9. A scanning method to scan a document in ascanning system, the scanning system including a scanner and a user hostcomputer having a TWAIN driver, the scanner and the user host computerconnectable by at least one of a local interface and a network, themethod comprising: receiving a scanning request from the scanner;receiving, by the scanner, a user input regarding user information froma user; transmitting, by the scanner, to the user host computer, amessage to activate the TWAIN driver corresponding to the userinformation when the user information corresponds to pre-registered userinformation; and sending scan data to the user host computer.
 10. Thescanning method of claim 9, wherein at least one of user scan optionscorresponds to the user information, and the activating the TWAIN drivercomprises activating the TWAIN driver using the at least one of userscan options.
 11. The scanning method of claim 10, wherein the messagecomprises at least one of the at least one of user scan options and userhost computer information corresponding to the user information, and thetransmitting the message further comprises transmitting the message, tothe user host computer corresponding to the user host computerinformation from among at least one of a plurality of host computers.12. The scanning method of claim 9 further comprising: transmitting, bythe scanner, a scanning result to the user host computer via at leastone of a local interface connection and a network connection.
 13. Ascanning system, comprising: a scanner to scan a document; and a userhost computer to control operation of the scanner via at least one of alocal interface connection and a network connection, wherein thescanner: receives a scanning request from a user, receives a user inputregarding user information from a user, transmits, to the user hostcomputer, a message to activate a TWAIN driver in the user hostcomputer, the TWAIN driver corresponding to user information when theuser information corresponds to pre-registered user information, andsends scan data to the user host computer wherein the user host computeractivates the TWAIN driver according to the message, and receives thescan data.
 14. The scanning system of claim 13, wherein at least one ofuser scan options corresponds to the user information, and the user hostcomputer activates the TWAIN driver using the at least one of user scanoptions.
 15. The scanning system of claim 14, wherein the messagecomprises at least one of the at least one of user scan options and userhost computer information corresponding to the user information, and thescanner transmits the message, to the user host computer correspondingto the user host computer information from among at least one of aplurality of host computers when the scanner transmits the message. 16.The scanning system of claim 13, wherein the scanner transmits ascanning result to the user host computer via at least one of the localinterface connection and the network connection.